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Bridging the value-action gap in green electricity derived from renewable energy sources: A resident typology perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Yang, Zheng
  • Zhan, Jinyan
  • Cao, Yuhan
  • Zhang, Hailin
  • Xu, Naikang
  • Wang, Chao
  • Liu, Wei
  • Wu, Quanlong
  • He, Yufei
  • Twumasi-Ankrah, Michael Jordan

Abstract

Existing studies inadequately address how psychological-behavioral segmentation explains persistent disparities between willingness to use and whether they want to pay across heterogeneous groups. Based on field survey of 473 residents in Beijing, China, this study identifies three distinct resident profiles (Pragmatic Optimists, Resistant Consumers, and Proactive Sustainers) through integrating the Environmental Belief-Awareness-Behavior Framework. Empirical evidence exposes a profound value-action gap misalignment, with 79.49 % of respondents showing high willingness to use compared to only 38.5 % willing to pay. Notably, 69.41 % exhibited a value-action gap, with Free Seekers as the predominant group. Across all groups, the proportion of residents demonstrating high willingness to use consistently approximated twice that of payment decision-makers. Multivariate analysis identifies that perceived behavioral control effectively bridges total value-action gaps. This resident typology advances Theory of Planned Behavior by decoding segment-specific value-action decoupling in adoption of green electricity derived from renewable energy sources. These findings enable targeted policy interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang, Zheng & Zhan, Jinyan & Cao, Yuhan & Zhang, Hailin & Xu, Naikang & Wang, Chao & Liu, Wei & Wu, Quanlong & He, Yufei & Twumasi-Ankrah, Michael Jordan, 2026. "Bridging the value-action gap in green electricity derived from renewable energy sources: A resident typology perspective," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(PE).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:256:y:2026:i:pe:s0960148125019561
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.124292
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